Trump picks former pharmaceutical executive as new health secretary

Those issues are potential political challenges for Azar and will, no doubt, be discussed during his confirmation hearings where Democrats can be expected to challenge, in particular, his ability or willingness to address drug prices or other pharmaceutical company issues. For those opposed to the path Trump has been taking Health and Human Services, Alex Azar symbolizes yet another attack on the progress made by the Affordable Care Act with his policy preferences aimed at undercutting and reversing numerous ACA's provisions.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray, who has been working on bipartisan healthcare legislation, tweeted, "Given Alex Azar's professional background, there are concerns on whether he can fairly execute any significant effort to lower drug prices for patients & families". Previously, he was president of Lilly USA, an affiliate of Eli Lilly, from January 2012 to January 2017.

Happy to announce, I am nominating Alex Azar to be the next HHS Secretary. "I will vigorously oppose this nomination".

The HHS is responsible for advising the President on matters of health, welfare, and income security programmes.

Dr. Azar's father immigrated to the US from Lebanon about 100 years ago, now his grandson is serving in the nation's cabinet. "This is someone who understands the complex system we've built-and the warped channel incentives baked into the system". "He also appreciates the need to have access to healthcare data and interoperability of health information systems". Kahn called Azar "the ideal pick for the times".

Cummings and Senator Bernie Sanders, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, a year ago called for a federal probe into whether Eli Lilly, Sanofi SA, Merck & Co Inc and Novo Nordisk A/S colluded to set prices on insulin and other diabetes drugs. HLC President Mary R. Grealy said she believes that once confirmed, Azar will be able to "hit the ground running", and will be help bring a "patient-centered, value-focused approach to healthcare policymaking".

Azar said about joining the company. "If he wants to take meaningful action to lower drug prices, we want to help him".